Cheap, very cheap!

The best time to buy Christmas decorations is definitely in the days after the 25th. I was able to pick up a 7ft tree with all kinds of decorations for next to nothing. Of course being that I wouldn’t get to actually use the decorations until next year is a bit of a drag, so the old tree with de-decorated and disassembled. The new tree is now up and decorated, a few days of enjoyment will be nice before it gets packed up as well. I like to keep the tree past new years but after that I want to look forward to spring and warm weather.

Ive been attempting to locate a Nintendo Wii for a long, long time now with no luck. The big hold up is that there is an obvious demand out there and with limited numbers coming into stores they sell in the blink of an eye. However I have found out that the stores that get them in sell out before they hit the shelves, the staff are buying them up or lying about being sold out so that their friends can come and get one. Very lame in my opinion but what can I do? In this city the staff that are hired to work at Wal-Mart tend to be bottom of the barrel. However, this seems to be the case at any Wal-Mart I have been unfortunate enough to have to go to.

The new car is awesome, im really enjoying it a lot. The factory stereo has to go, but if my equipment from my old car doesn’t sell I get it back and will promptly have it installed. I am still getting used to the size of the vehicle, parking is fun because I expect to manuvre like I did in the focus out of habit. That will come though, man I just love to drive it. I want to right now…maybe I will after this post.

In final news I found out that a lottery ticket I purchased last Friday had 4 out of the 7 numbers match! $10 richer baby! Well I cashed it in and bought 2 more tickets, here's hoping for some big money. Daddy wants a new LCD 1080p TV!

Merry Christmas to Me!!

So I am on xmas break, I left to the folks place yesterday which was a day earlier than planned. However for a good reason as I had to pick up my xmas present to myself! Here is a pic..

- 2004 Oldsmobile Alero GL

So its good-bye Ford Focus, and hello fully loaded Alero. Its a little sad as the focus was my first real car (had an 89 escort before that) and it treated me super well. I never had a single problem with it and it was fun to drive. But it was time for something a little roomier, more power, and this was the perfect combination of price and features. It is MINT and im loving it!

Anyways its xmas eve and soon the traditional Yahtzee tournament will be commencing soon. I may be able to squeak a win this year, Im due...Just have to get by Grandma aka Yahtzee Champ for the last many many years.

Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and all that to all of you! I gotta run, I hear the dice shaking up!

A new career path perhaps?

The letter I wrote into the local paper did get printed, it was pretty cool to see actually. Hopefully people will read it and take it to heart, even if it doesn’t last long I had to say something. My letter actually follows an article about another vehicle getting into an accident due to high speeds and poor road conditions, maybe this will help to convey some message. If I can reach one person I have done my job…ya something like that.

I’m planning another (read: final) Christmas shopping trip tonight, the last in a long series. Although I have to admit I prefer during the week as there are usually less people out. Well at least less than what one would find travelling around on the weekends. I refuse to go to the mall or any store such as Wal Mart on a regular Saturday, add in the approaching Christmas day and I will avoid it all costs. I can only take getting hit in the ankle by some dumbass and their cart so much before I throw in the towel.

Beyond tired....

So tired that im not, sleeping and awake at the same time and things havent been more clear...

*crashes*

My letter to the Editor

Below is my submission to the local paper feel free to review at your leisure:


Let cooler heads prevail

At this time of year the roads are often less then favourable for driving on, and as the city struggles to keep up with the ever changing conditions many drivers seem to be frustrated. In particular I am noticing a disturbing trend amongst the hustle and bustle of city traffic, people “riding the bumper” of somebody who they feel is going too slow. Now way back in drivers education there was always a footnote when driving and that was to drive to the conditions and drive at a pace you feel comfortable, also leaving the appropriate distance between you and the other vehicle for safety reasons. I think that many people have forgotten this, or in their moment of frustration decide to ignore it altogether.

When I am travelling home and see some person driving their small front wheel drive car with a large Dodge 4x4 a mere 3 feet behind them I am frightened to think what the possible outcomes may be. The person being followed may feel pressure to speed up (in some cases when they are already at the posted limits sometimes beyond) and increase the chance of them losing control and causing an accident, or get rear ended by the careless person behind them should a sudden stop occur.

I have heard countless stories of this scenario with a few tales about the drivers following the person for several city blocks travelling dangerously close and scaring the drivers, especially the elderly and families with young children in the vehicle attempting to prove some point. Hearing this gives me a sick feeling knowing that there are certain reckless individuals with no respect or care about anyone’s well being. These individuals seem callous in this scenario as they show a total disregard to the dangers they are creating for the person they are tailing as well as the people around them that could be affected should an accident occur. No matter what they think, there is no justification for this action and its both sickening and shocking to hear.

I myself have had this happen the other day on my way home from work, driving the posted speed limit and still had somebody purposely following me close as if to prove a point. Yes I get it, you have a 4 wheel drive traction machine and can drive as fast you like with that added traction. However, in my car I will slip at icy intersections as I start to move and not matter how close you feel the need to follow, I will not risk causing an accident by driving the 80km/h you think the traffic should be going. All the while I am watching your vehicle and making sure that I will not have to make any sudden stops so I don’t get rear ended and injured as a result.

If you see somebody driving slightly slower than the flow of traffic and you can pass, please do so. If not keep your cool, riding the bumper and causing a larger chance of an accident is not the right reaction no matter what your reasoning may be. You think you are proving a point showing them you believe they are going too slow, what you are really doing is proving that you are a dangerous driver and causing more harm then good. There are enough accidents, injuries, and deaths that occur this time of year, think about what you are doing before you decide to contribute to those numbers. Patience is a virtue; please let cooler heads prevail for everyone’s sake.

A little late, but ill add to it..

Yesterday:

Today was the official end of my probation period at the new job and everything went very well I must say. I didn’t really expect it to go horribly wrong, but hey you never really know. Personally I hate the employee evaluations but what can you do?

So as I drove back to work from lunch playing ‘avoid the snowdrifts’, I started to wonder what the hold up is on the whole street cleaning or rather lack thereof. I mean this city (approx 26k people) is fuelled by the oil patch and the bucks that come with it. There is tons of cash flowing and taxes and such keep rising, however certain items one would expect to be done never seem to be. The streets are garbage, full of potholes, ruts, and broken pavement. The majority of this is taken care of by the winter since the packed snow will cover this up.

In the winter there is minimal street cleaning, salting, sanding etc. This results in a city wide skating rink where the streets shine, polished, glassy, and offering areas of zero traction. Any hopes of stopping safely go along with you as you slide into the intersection, speed isn’t always a factor if you are driving on a street with a surface like Teflon.

Oh and did I mention that the 2 major streets are actually highways that intersect in the middle of city, usually the traffic contains several semis and large equipment rolling through town that are well aware they cant stop. So they will blow through a red light doing 60 hoping that nobody pulls in front. One would think that the expense of basic maintenance would be appreciated by the insurance companies. Claims must go up during this time of year, I don’t have the actual numbers however if the number of collisions I encounter on my day to day travels increase I’m sure the numbers are on the rise.

The ultimate irony to me being that if your sidewalk isn’t clear in 48 hours you can be fined and expected to pay, I would like to know what the fine for not clearing the city’s main roads within 3 months would be. Not that it matters, well unless the fines paid by the city go out to the citizens that have to endure the dangerous conditions they encounter taking their kids to school, going to work, or trying to make it home for lunch. By paid by the city I mean the city council who get paid to make these decisions, I want them to pay. Maybe something would get done that much faster when they are dishing out the cash rather than collecting the sidewalk clearing fines.

Today:

So today was the bonus announcement at work and without giving away exact details it is definately the best gift from any company I have ever worked for. I only wish I was on the payroll longer so I could get even more cash, I had to leave early though as I am going around to do more christmas related things and will need all the time I can get. I am actually typing this addition while my girlfriend runs around gathering everything she needs for the trip. I usually send her ahead to get ready, all I need to do is put on my coat, gloves, and shoes. I dont know what she does for all that time shes running around. Women. hehe j/k ladies..

So frustrating, something needs to be done and soon.

**Warning: The following post contains language not suitable for small children, if this may offend you please skip this post. Although I say there are worse things in this world then a little foul language**

What is wrong with the world? A rather large question to pose in the grand scheme of things so let me be more specific. Recently there have been a string of murders Edmonton, Alberta. These murders are the result of some punk ass kids carrying knives, and a few have been gang related. After reading the daily news about one of the more publicized murders, the 2 responsible for the death of Kenyon Joseph Gardiner on May 15, 2005 it got my blood boiling just a tad.

It seems that the accused Steven Anthony Pillon, 22, and Brandon Neil Prevey, 27 had been accused of second degree murder, however due to the lack of people willing to be witnesses they were able to plead to reduced charges. Now these 2 waste of skin, pieces of human excrement might get away with lesser charges after killing the guy at a party in front of 30 people. Others were injured by these retards as well.

Supposedly these 2 punks have gang connections and in this day an age it seems to be the norm. Hell every time I read or hear about an assault its related to some gang banger wannabes trying to prove how tough they are by bringing out knives or swarming some defenceless person and beating them to death. By the time the courts are done with them its more or less a slap on the wrist and a “don’t do it again” speech.

These are the people that burden the system, cost taxpayers money, and cause irreparable harm to family and friends of the victims. Something needs to be done, sticking them in a prison with 3 squares a day, playstation, satellite tv, and McDonalds is not what I have in mind. How about taking these “hardcore” teenage punks and dropping them in the middle of Harlem? See how tough they really are, or how about an eye for an eye? You stab someone to death and leave them to die you get the same treatment. Vicious? Yes? Wrong way to look at things? Maybe, maybe not. In my honest opinion you take a life you give a life. You are a big man and want to stab somebody in a fist fight? You should get stabbed and dumped in a ditch. With an actual repercussion for your actions maybe things will get better. This applies to anyone of any age, i dont even want to get started on the young offenders act, you are old enough to do the crime you are old enough to pay for it. Age shouldnt be a factor at that point. Anyways I digress.

Bring back the prison system from the early days where prisoners are prisoners. Murderers, rapists, child molesters, you are not people to me there is no humanity left in you and there never will be. You want to take a life, you will give your life. I really don’t care about counter arguments, this is how I feel. You disagree so be it, come and talk to me when you lose somebody you love and we will see what your thoughts are then. “Ya he killed your son, he will go to jail for 10 months and be treated better then when he was out, hope that makes you feel better.”

Karma is a bitch, and what goes around will come around and bite you right in your little bitch ass. Count on it.

Eye for an eye.

Where did the weekend go?!

The new television hunt was a success as my friend was able to find a nice set, 46” LCD 1080p Samsung, it’s a thing of beauty. So after the process of finding the tv and getting back to his place, the fun of setting it up and running the cables to the various devices began. It will probably continue today after work since he got a high def receiver activated, but the thing didn’t have an hdmi out only dvi and the tv only has hdmi inputs (don’t worry the tech speak will end soon). So he found an adapter that would connect to the receivers dvi and you could plug an hdmi cable into, but it didn’t work. So he is looking for a cable with dvi on one end and hdmi on the other. It’s a bit of a headache getting this stuff setup and tested, but be the end I will know what to expect if/when I get a new tv for myself.

On Saturday night I was sitting on my couch and I could hear a vehicle spinning out, I checked out the window and seen a truck stuck on the ice field in front of my house (this area is also known as a street). I got my winter gear on and stepped outside to see if I could help, when I got there I seen why he was stuck. His rear right tire was completely off the rim! And on the left the spinning had melted the ice right to the pavement. Not to mention the ice was black from the tire. There was another neighbour out there wanting to tow the guy out, I suggested a push but he said he tried and its no use. My g/f came out and we pushed the guy out no problem, then the driver floors it and starts going down the street! Well a rear wheel drive truck with 1 tire off the rim can only go so far and he gets stuck again…

We catch up and after giving him instructions on what to do managed to push him backwards down the street back to his house, he thanked us and we went our separate ways. Good deed done I suppose, not sure why nobody else came out to help. Plenty people watching the show, too cold to come help I suppose.

Needless to say the trucks rim is messed up, but it was an old beater truck, next time he should make sure his tire has proper air pressure…